GIRL'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 16

GIRL'S DEATH

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

REMARKS BY CORONER

INFATUATION ALLEGED

CBy lelograph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 4.

"For the rest of your life you can consider that the death of this child is practically due to your callousness," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, Coroner, addressing a young married man, Leslie William Reanney, at an inquest held at Henderson into the death of June Carter, aged. 18, who collapsed after drinking poison at Whenuapai on October 7. The Coroner found that the poison had been self-administered while the girl was under great distress.

The parents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. H. Carter, of Whenuapai, were represented by Mr. R. P. Hunt. Mr. R. Elcoat appeared on behalf of Reanney, who was the principal witness, and Constable Pollard conducted the case for the police. Reanney, who gave his age as 32, stated that prior to October 1 he was in business as a storekeeper at Whenuapai, where he first met June Carter four and a half years ago through her calling at the store almost daily as a customer. "She appeared to have become infatuated: with me, and I could not break her off it." Reanney continued "About two and a half years ago, on account of the girl's attitude towards , me; her parents secured a position for her at Auckland, but in spite of this her infatuation appeared to continue. She knew of my business movements when I went to Auckland on' an average of once a week, and she would go and sit in my motor-car for me to, return while I was away attending to my business.' One day witness said that, with his wife, he returned from a visit to Auckland to find the key ,of 7 the house missing, and, on investigation, June Carter was found lying on a bed in the sleeping porch. He. noticed a key on a ledge near the bed,, and alongside it there,was a glass contaiaing crystals which resembled sugar. While he was looking at it the girl rose and said, "Here, give me, that,' but he walked outside'and threw it away on the grass. Subsequently, his wife told the deceased she would tell the police if she did not go. and she left almost immediately. - V COLLAPSED AT. ODIED. At 10 a.m. the following day, October 7 he was cutting wood in the yard, when he looked up and saw her standing about four paces froni him. She was holding a small glass jar containing a milky liquid, which he thought was cream. He went into the house and informed his wife of the deceaseds return, and she said she would mform the police. Witness went back to the yard to remonstrate with the girl, and he thought the liquid in tire jar looked unusual. When he knocked it out pi her hand she said, "If that won't work, I have plenty more that will., A few minutes later witness heard-the girl attempting to vomit in a shrubbery, and on the way to her he, found a small paper bag to which a poison label was attached." His wife and he tookjier into trie kitchen, where they .attempted to administer'antidotes.. However, she collapsed and died before the arrival of a doctor. Mr. R. P. Hunt: You say you_became acquainted with the girl. .Whenjdid that acquaintanceship turn into something, more ihtimate?-It did not. <_ Do you mean to say there was never anything more than-mere acquaintenceship with this girl?-Strong£iendship. Did you ever kiss her?—Ves. ~ Witness admitted he had promised he would have nothing more to do WMr. Hunt: Have you Honoured your promise given in 1935 thatyou would have nothing to do with the Yes, of my own volition.' . How many times since .she., left Whenuapai has she -been in your company in Auckland?-Quite a few times. ''..'• ■~ I suppose you will say you told your wife abdut them?— Not every time. _ : Did you ever go to dances in AucKland at which the girl was. present?— Not that I can remember. • . : ■ The Coroner: Anyway, your friendship with this girl continued right up till the time of the tragedy. > . Mr. Hunt: Have you ever told her you would divorce your wife and marry her?— No. ■•..:.•■■ "ASSOCIATION FORCED UFON HIM." The Coroner: I am still troubled by the fact that you did not g? n to the girl's father, who lived only 400 yards away. The girl'would have been alive now1 if you /had taken her to her parents. ,; v -.' - .: ' The wife of the ;• previous witness, Dorothy Reanney, said there had been no trouble between witness and her husband and the association with June was "rather'forced upon him. Evidence was given by the father of deceased, Harry Carter, thaVhe had spoken to Reanney, at the end of 1934 and had remonstrated with him for carrying on with his daughter. Reanney admitted that "be had been a damn fool but he loved little June and would do his best not to see her any more." He said that beyond kissing her no harm had been done. The mother of the girl, Alexa Carter, said she had been - worried by her daughter's association with Reanney and had iriany talks' to her on the subject. ■■■■'• "The. finding is that the cause of the death of this girl was due to poison self-inflicted while under great distress," the Coroner stated at the close of the evidence. "It is apart from my duty, but I cannot help feeling very great distress and grief that a married man of Reanney's age should have encouraged this little girl after his promise to have nothing to do with her.", ■ '